The Clipperettes had a better than average season, winning 11 games and dropping 10. They won second place trophy in the South Story Conference winning over Colo, Maxwell, Cambridge, and Slater, while losing to Huxley and Slater for a 4-2 record. Story County Tournament - Collins played against the powerful Gilbert team, which later went to the State Tournament, losing in the first round 64-59. Sectional Tourney - Collins won third place, defeating Maxwell in the first round, 50-47, dropping a hard-fought overtime game to Van Cleve in the semi-finals, 52-49, and defeating Colo 46-36 for Consolation honors. First team all conference recognition: Betty Spooner (55) (forward), Sandra Carley (sophomore) (guard).
Boys 1954-55 Season Summary: Scheduled Games - Collins won: Farrar, Elkhart, Maxwell, Mingo (scores not found), Cambridge 59-42, Slater 55-34, Rhodes 57-46, Colo 56-32, Baxter 75-35, Maxwell 50-40, Cambridge 62-38, Farrar 53-43, Baxter 71-34, Shipley 48-36, McCallsburg 50-42, Huxley 82-33, Colo 53-47, Eldora Training School 92-56. Lost - None. County Tourney: First round - won over Gilbert 77-68. Semi-finals - lost to Roland 52-43. Consolation round - won over Nevada "B" 63-54. Section Tourney - first round lost to Melbourne 55-45.
Boys 1954-55 Team Members: Starting five - John Vasey (56) (f) 417 pts.-apg. 18; Jack Kilgore (55) (c) apg. 11; Larry Laird (56) (f) apg. 10; Ronnie Long (55) (g) 152 pts.; Gene Fitzgerald (55) (g) 109 pts. and other regular players - Jerry Thornton (55) (f); Rex Morrison (56) (g); Jim Dodd (56) (g), Jerry Nichol (56) (g); Bill Ballard (56) (f). Other team members -Elliott Partridge (57) (f); Dave Fitzgerald (57) (g); Ben Clark (57); Jerry Huffman (57); Darwin Luing (57); Gordon Smith (58); Pat Fitzgerald (58). Manager - Darwin Luing. Coach - Louis Schrader. Seniors - Jack Kilgore, Gene Fitzgerald, Ronnie Long, Jerry Thornton.
Boys 1954-55 Season Narrative Summary: The Clippers had a very successful season in compiling a 23-2 won-lost record. (Insert 2005: Very likely, no losses in scheduled season games is an all-time school record. Also only 2 losses in the entire season is very likely an all-time school record. Available information indicates the 1947-48 boys' team lost 3 games in the season.) The Clippers scored 1418 points for offensive average of 57 points per game and limited opponents to 944 points for 38-point average. The shooting percentage was 36%, making 571 baskets of 1580 attempts. The free throw shooting was 52%. Collins' team went undefeated in the scheduled game season and won the South Story Conference with a 6-0 record, defeating Colo, Maxwell, Cambridge, Slater, Huxley, and Shipley. The 2 losses of the season came in tournament play. Story County Tourney - The first loss was a hard-fought game with Roland in the semi-final round, 52-43, which broke Collins' 21 game winning streak. Collins came back to defeat Nevada B for third place trophy. Sectional Tourney - The other loss was to Melbourne in the second round, 55-45. First team all conference recognition: Jack Kilgore (55) (center), John Vasey (56) (forward). Honorable mention conference recognition: Larry Laird (56) (forward), Ronnie Long (55) (guard), Gene Fitzerald (55) (guard).
March 3. 1955 The Annual was completed this week by the seniors under the able direction of Mary McGrane and sent to the publishers to be printed.